Highways are relatively quiet as the first week of the holiday season concludes

HOPE — Following a series of closures and partial closures over the holidays, it could be somewhat easier for motorists travelling between the Fraser Valley and the B.C. Interior Sunday. But drivers should expect traffic to be heavy in sections as people return home from the first week of holiday celebrations.

Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon and the Coquihalla Highway are both open and without any major delays. Highway 3, linking Hope to Princeton, is open but motorists will be slowed by single-lane alternating traffic for a 42 km section as highway contractors work to repair that section of the highway that was badly damaged by the impact of an atmospheric river event earlier in December.

Environment Canada is forecasting a chance of light flurries along both the Coquihalla and along Highway 3 on Sunday. There is a higher chance of flurries in the Lytton area of the Fraser Canyon. However, in all cases, the amount of snow that could fall is minor.

According to Environment Canada, weather conditions in the Fraser Valley are expected to warm a few degrees and stay dry in the coming days. Rain returns to the forecast on New Year’s Day.